UK boy's name
Pauly
A diminutive form of the masculine name Paul, derived from Latin Paulus meaning "small" or "humble".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Pauly is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Pauly popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2022 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Pauly is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Pauly. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Pauly ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 3 boys were registered as Pauly.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Pauly as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2022
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Pauly mean?
The name Pauly is a diminutive form of the male given name Paul, which has its origins in the ancient Roman family name Paulus. The name Paulus itself is derived from the Latin word "paulus," meaning "small" or "humble." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone of small stature or humble beginnings.
The name Paul gained significant importance in the Christian tradition, as it was the name adopted by the apostle formerly known as Saul of Tarsus. After his conversion, he became one of the most influential figures in the early spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. The name Paul is mentioned numerous times in the New Testament, particularly in the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline epistles.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the diminutive form Pauly can be found in medieval German records, where it was commonly used as a nickname or shortened version of Paul. This variation gained popularity in various regions of Europe, particularly in German-speaking areas.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Pauly. One prominent example is Pauly Shore (born 1968), an American actor and comedian known for his roles in films such as "Encino Man" and "Son in Law." Another well-known Pauly is Pauly D (born 1980), an American television personality and DJ best known for his appearance on the reality show "Jersey Shore."
In the realm of literature, Pauly Karp (1922-2016) was an American author and playwright, renowned for his plays "The Derelicts" and "The Burglar." The world of sports has also seen notable figures with the name Pauly, such as Pauly Perrault (1919-2009), a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens in the 1940s.
Another individual worth mentioning is Pauly Ellering (born 1926), an American professional wrestler and manager who gained fame in the 1970s and 1980s as part of the tag team "The Blond Bombers" and later as a manager for various wrestlers.
While these are just a few examples, the name Pauly has been present throughout history, spanning various cultures and professions, reflecting its enduring appeal and versatility as a diminutive form of the more traditional name Paul.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Pauly by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Pauly was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Pauly
- Patrick 17,559
- Peter 13,150
- Paul 8,542
- Philip 4,997
- Parker 4,664
- Phoenix 3,865
- Preston 3,370
- Prince 1,782
- Patryk 1,763
- Phillip 1,697
- Percy 1,395
- Perry 1,015
FAQ
Pauly: questions and answers
How popular is the name Pauly in the UK right now?
In 2022, Pauly was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Pauly most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 3 babies registered as Pauly in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Pauly?
A diminutive form of the masculine name Paul, derived from Latin Paulus meaning "small" or "humble".
How many people are called Pauly in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Pauly across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.